A Walt Disney World vacation usually promises heartwarming encounters with beloved animal characters—Mickey, Donald, Stitch, and even the rare sighting of Flik from A Bug’s Life. But for one guest, their magical stay ended with a much less welcome creature crawling out of the wall.
In a Reddit post that quickly gained attention, user midnight_doodles shared a short video capturing the moment a roach emerged from an outlet as they unplugged a charger during checkout. The clip, posted in the Walt Disney World subreddit, showed the insect navigating in and out of the socket.
“Was checking out yesterday and I unplugged my watch charger from the wall and a little fella came out of the socket,” the user wrote.
While the hotel wasn’t officially identified, details in the video—including Moana-themed décor—suggest it took place at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. Known for its tropical ambiance and close proximity to Magic Kingdom, this Deluxe resort ranks among the priciest on property.
Was checking out yesterday and I unplugged my watch charger from the wall and a little fella came out of the socket
byu/midnight_doodles inWaltDisneyWorld
Florida’s climate is home to a wide range of wildlife—from alligators and snakes to smaller critters like lizards and insects. Guests are often reminded that outdoor encounters are possible, but few anticipate an insect sharing their room.
The response online was swift. Commenters urged the guest to alert resort Cast Members, emphasizing the importance of Disney knowing about pest concerns. ReformedEngineer encouraged reporting it right away: “It’s an unavoidable part of Florida, but Disney 100% wants to know to immediately fix the issue and see if it’s a bigger problem.”
Others shared personal stories and praised Disney’s response in past incidents. Caderjames recalled how Disney went above and beyond when a relative encountered bed bugs at Art of Animation: “They let us go into the gift shop and get all the things we would need for our day and they upgraded our room and cleaned and sanitized all our stuff… We probably got at least $1,000 of free merch and a free stay.”
Another user, CharaRen, noted the high expectations tied to deluxe accommodations: “Roach problem usually means musty/moist stuff and food crumbs left behind by previous guests… Definitely let them know so pest control can properly treat the room.”
Several commenters also identified the bug as a German cockroach, which can multiply quickly and present health concerns. I_am_the_Brent issued a stern warning: “That is not a normal bug. They will infest structures fast and cause health problems. Tell them and check every bag and item. You don’t want these to come home with you.”
One Redditor, Wrong-Neighborhood-2, urged prompt reporting to the front desk or Cast Members to ensure Pest Management could respond swiftly. Others, like rdenney88, speculated that the outlet itself may be part of a larger infestation: “German roach. That wall is infested. 100% those don’t come out unless their home is overcrowded.”
This wasn’t the only recent report involving these pests. Tryingtodothisright described a difficult stay at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort: “We had an uncountable amount of German roaches… The front desk offered to spray but we declined due to having three little kids. They gave us a $50 refund and a toothbrush when I showed them a photo of a roach next to it. We spent hours checking all our belongings when we got home to make sure nothing came with us.”
Though Disney’s It’s Tough to Be a Bug! attraction has closed its doors at Animal Kingdom, real-life insects are finding their own way into the spotlight—and sometimes into guest luggage.
Have you ever had an unexpected critter encounter during your Walt Disney World Resort stay? Share your story in the comments below.
